Enjoy my journey in further developing my photography!

Advanced Studio Practice 2A: Shoot: “Like a Wolf in Sheeps clothing”

26th November 2014

The aim of this shoot was to depict the saying “Like a Wolf in Sheeps clothing” in a literal interpretation and a metaphorical interpretation. However because of the nature of the phrase, the literal and metaphorical representations cross over. My original plan was to literally just have a person dressed as a wolf, in sheeps clothing – stood up, presenting itself plainly to the camera. However because I used lighting and expression in a certain way, this conceptualised and shaped the images. I wanted to use lighting to convey the sense and meaning of the phrase – of someone being a certain way on the outside but then on the inside having ulterior motives and being mysterious/conniving. So I used one light source directly at the side of the subject to cast a large shadow behind them, which, because of the position of the light, the shape of the shadow appears different to the shape/view we have of the subject from where the camera is positioned – giving the impression of 2 different people/sides to the person. This is also depicted within the contrast of the dark ‘wolf fur’ and the white sheep ‘skin’. I wanted the sheep outfit to be baggy on the subject too to show that the ‘disguise is started to fall’ and because wolves tend to be energetic animals that are slender and sheep tend to be quite a lot fuller – so the ‘baggy’ nature of the outfit shows that something isn’t quite right…

I shot the latter images – the close ups of the face because I wanted to show the expression of the wolf and depict the meaning of the phrase when put into a context – what the phrase actually means. I wanted to show an aggression but also the slyness/conniving nature of the wolf and phrase. I used the lighting again to create a light side and a dark side – again to depict the nature of the phrase – someone who is covering up one side of themselves and deceiving people with the other, ‘put on’, side. I personally think the last 2 images here are strongly showing this because they are subtle – the expression is strong yet subtle and they leave an element of anticipation and tension as to what’s going to happen next. After shooting I saw that maybe the obvious ‘snarls’ I was showing were a bit too obvious and ‘gimmicky’ for what I am aiming to achieve.